Electric switch



Ma s} 1925.

1,536,772 C. CHRISTENSEN ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Au:- 50, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

' Inventor: 30 Christ er Christensen,

jg 4712' His Httorneg.

May 5, 1925.

1,536,772 C. CHRISTENSEN ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Ausz. 30, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3. 20 L I 9 7 23 Z/ O\\ 4 4a )1; 45 4/ o T as jJQ 1 0 J/JC/ I O 29 o A as 0 a O Viz/W 4. fi

His Attorney Patented May 5, i925.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..-

cnnrsrnn enmsrnnsnn, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, assrenon T0 GENERAL unaware COMPANY, 15. CORPORATION o-r'NEw YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed August 30, 1920. Serial No. 406,961.

proved form of actuating mechanism and which, in features to be definitely pointed out hereinafter, is an improvement on similar switches heretofore known in the art.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention will be definitely indicated .inthe claims appended hereto, while the features of construction and mode of operation will be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show the referred embodiments of my invention an in which- Fig. 1 is a triple pole switcliembodying the principles of my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are side elevations of a portion. of the switch mechanism in closed and open positions respectively; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a ortion of the switch'structure; Fig. 5 is a etailed view of a portion of the switch structure; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of the operating mechanism.

In Fig. 1, the principles of my invention are shown embodied in a switch comprising three oles or units 1, 2 and 3, each unit having re atively movable cooperating contacts 4 and 5 separable beneath the surface of oil or a similar insulating fluid in a vessel or container 6. Each air of cooperating contacts are controlled l y a mechanism, and the mechanisms for the units are interconnected for simultaneous movement and operated from a common operating mechanism 7. In

the form shown, the mechanism for each pole or unit of the switch is inclosed in a casing 8 for protection from the weather.

The switch structure has been arranged to facilitate assembly and to enable the utilization of unit parts. Furthermore, the structure is such that various combinations of parts can be used and parts interchanged to provide switches having a wide range of in- 'having the terrupting capacities. As one unitary structure, I provide a top portion or cover structure which is adapted to be made 1h; of standard unit parts and kept in stock. As

best shown in Fig. 4, this cover structureconsists of two channeliron supports 9 upon which is mounted at right angles thereto a second pair of channel iron supports 10. Carried by the supports 10 is the casing 8 consisting of side and end plates as shown, in Figs. 1 and 4. Carried by the supports 9 are cover plates 11 provided with openings 12 for the insertion of terminal bushings 13 as shown in Fig. 1. An additional feature of the channel supports 10 lies in the fact that these supports are sufliciently far apart to enable a man to pass between them into the depending oil vessel and align contacts or make other necessary repairs while the switch structure is complete. Heretofore this has been impossible due to the fact that a man could not enter the oil tank except by partially disassembling the switch, as by .removing a terminal bushing or the like. The mechanism for controlling the contacts is also assembled as a unit and is adapted to be secured to the supports 10. The other component parts of the switch consist of terminal bushmgs of any suitable type, and contacts, which may be of several difi'erent types,-depending upon the duty which the switch is to perform. The oil vessels 6 cominterrupting capacity, the cover structure is selected and mounted upon that oil vessel proper depth, the vessels being removable and replaceable if desired .by a suitable tank removing means, not shown. The proper terminal bushings 13 are then secured in openings 12 of cover plates 11 and the proper mechanism 7 mounted upon the channel supports 10. Each of these component parts which enter into the composite switch structure are, as before stated, made u of standard unit parts and kept assemble in stock. With the component parts as described, it is apparent that by making various-combinations of unit parts, switches may be produced having a wide range of interrupting capacity.

The type of actuating mechanism used in this switchmay be either of the solenoid operated type as shown in Fig. 1, or of the mounted on a supporting base 14 adapted to be secured to the channel iron supports 10 and comprises an actuating arm 15 which, for purposes of lightness and insulation, may be made -of wood carried in a socket 16.

The end of arm 15 carries the reciprocating rod 17 to which is secured the movable contacts 5 for the switch. In order to guide the movement of the rod 17, I provlde each switch with an insulating guide sleeve 18 shown in Figs. 1 and 4, through which the rod 17 passes, this sleeve being carried between the supports 10.

For moving the arm 15 and preferably for causing the end of thearm to move in. a straight line, I provide a parallel motion mechanism comprising paralleling links 19 and 20 connected at one end to the lever 15 and at the other end to lever 21. Connected to links 19 is the usual guide link 22, shown in Fig. 1, but omitted in Figs. 2 and 3 for clearness, only the point of pivotal connection for the guide link 22 being shown. The parallel motion mechanism is movable about the pivotal point 23 as an axis and carries with it a lever. 24 which is preferably in-.

tegral with lever 21. Lever 24 is adapted to be connected to a rod 25, as best shown in Fig. 1, which serves to communicate the motion of the operating mechanism 7 to the mechanisms for the remainin units ofgthe switch and operate the same slmultaneously.

For operating the mechanism, I provide an operating toggle comprising members 26 and 27, toggle member 26 beingcarried on an operatin shaft 28 and preferably but not necessarily integrally related with arms 29 and 30. The operating-force for the switch is supplied through either arm 29 or 30. as

desired. In Order to limit the position of toggle 26 -27 to its overset position, I. providej an adjustable stop 31 carried by toggle member 26 and cooperating with a member 32 carried by the base 14. In the solenoid type of operating mechanism as shown in Fig. 1, the operating toggle 2627 is connected to an intermediate or actuator mem-' ber 33 pivoted at "the point 23 which is" in turn connected by a link 34 to the parallel motion mechanism.

In'the hand or automatic type of mechanism,-a"t"rip free from the handle mechanism is connected between the operating toggle 26- '27 and the parallelmotion mechani's rjn'. In thistype of. mechanism, the opfllf'ating toggle 26 27 is connected to-ai l Yinterme'd iate or a tuator member35 which is movable about the pivotal point 23 and to which is connected the parallel motion mechanism through a collapsible connection or toggle 3637. To hold the toggle 3637 in thrust transmitting position, I provide a restraining means comprising a latching or restraining toggle 3839 which is carried by the actuator member35. Toggle link 38 is connected to operating toggle link 37 and is provided with a projection or nose 40 with latching toggle in restraining position. The toggle link 39 is connected to the actuator member 35 through an adj stable pin 42 threadedthrough a portion of the member 35. The pin 42 provides a means for rais- '75 which a latch 41 cooperates to hold. the

ing or lowering the link 39 in respect to the actuator 35 and thus varyingthe pressure at the point of engagement of nose 40 and latch 41. In previous types of mechanisms in which a latch 40 has been used to restrain a toggle, it has been customary practice to file the engaging recess of the latch until the point of engagement was correct and the latch would properly function. This has been often a rather tedious procedure. In the form of latching toggle disclosed, I have shown a means for easily and quickly ad justing the point of engagement of latch 41 and nose 40 by connecting the end oftoggle link 39 to actuator 35 through the adjustable member 42.

.In order to trip the switch, I provide a tripping pin 43 which engages the tail portion of latch 41 and moves it out of engaging position. Tripping pin 43 is adapted for actuation either by the armature 44- of an electroresponsive means or'mechanically. through a lever 45 which is controlled-bya link 46 connected to a projectionon shaft 28 whereby operation of the shaft by'hand will operate link 46 and move the pin 43 to tripping position. Actuation of the tripplng pin 43, therefore, releases the latching toggle 38 39 thus permitting the actuating toggle 3637 to collapse, whereupon the parallel motion mechanism moves to circuit opening position, shown in Fig. 3, independently of the operating toggle 26'27 and actuator member 35 which are no longer rigidly locked to the parallel motion mechanism, since the restraint of the actuating toggle 3637 is released upon the collapsing of the latching toggle 3839. When the tripping in 43 is actuated by the armature 44 of an e ectroresponsive device the lever 45 and the link 46 remain in the position shown in Fig. 2, the shaft of the tripping pin 43 being movable in a cleara-nce'opening in the lever 45. If, however, the switch is opened by turning either of the arms 29, 30 counterclockwise, the lever 45, which interlocks with the link 46, as shown in Fig. 2,,will be moved by the link 46 in response to a small counterclockwise rotation of the "shaft 28 thereby actuating the tripping pin 43, which trips the latching toggle 3839. Upon further-rotation of the shaft 28 to reset toggles 3637 and 38-39, the link 46 slides idly upon the lever 45 and the link 46 and lever 45 take the position shown in Fig. 3. The reverse'rotation of the shaft 28 to close the switch notches in link 46 and lever 45 as shown in Fig. 2, thus resetting them in a position where they maybe actuated tomove the tripping pin 43. In order to close the switch, the shaft 28 is rotated counterclockwise to collapse the operating toggle 26-27 thereby causlng the toggle link 27 to rotate the actuator member 35clockwise independently of' the parallel motion mechanism.

This movement of the member 35 sets the toggle 36- 37 in thrust-transmitting position and also sets the latching toggle 3839 in latching position, the latch 41- engaging the nose 40'of the toggle link 38 thereby locking the toggle 3637 in rigid or thrusttransmitting position. Since the parallel motion mechanism is now rigidly locked to the actuator member 35, clockwise rotation of the shaft 28 actuates the parallel motion mechanism through the lever 21 thereby closing the switch, the toggle 2627 being set at the end of the closing movement.

To act as a bufiing means and to limit the movement of the switch mechanism to circuit opening position, I rovide an oil dash pot 47 which is engagea 1e with-a member. 48'carried by the arm 15. This dash pot and toggle 3637 also serve as separate means for controlling the length of stroke of the mechanism. as it is well known that the stroke of a switch mechanism or the distance of separation of the contacts is related to the interrupting capacity of the switch. Toggle 36-37' is adapted to increase the stroke of the mechanism by increasing the length of one or both. of the toggle links. Preferably one link, 36, is varied in length for this purpose by using a set of interchangeable links of varying lengths. The longer link 36 becomes, the greater the distance of travel for the end of arm 15. The stroke or distance of travel can also be variedby controlling the height of dash pot 47.' For this purpose, I provide an extension member 49 which is removahly positioned upon the main supporting means 50. \Vhen in position, extension member 49 shOrtnS. the strokeand when remove the t oke is increas d i g h I s; there'- fbre, appar nt h yT e l e b n ienmf changesin dash pot str cture with vain tion in the length of lever 36 aflf rdga me s whereby'the s oke o the, swi ch e l en i a Var ed ever wide m t "Ano er na a we at the w t h r my'inyention' is shown"in"Fig.'5I Inthis figure is shown the lower end'ofone :ofthe terminal members 51 carrying the findcontact 4 which in the'form shown comprises a pair of laminated contact fingers 52 to which are secured the guide fingers 53. Co-

operating with the fixed contact fingers 52 are the movable contact members 5 wedgeshaped in configuration and carried at one end of the reciprocating rod 17. As the movable contact members 5 are moved into and out of engagement with the fixed contacts, it often occurs that due to slight changes in adjustment, the wedge-shaped member as it moves into contact engaging position, will strike one of the guide fingers 53 bending itover and causing considerable damage makingv a poor contact and throwing the mechanism out of order. I have efi'ectu ally overcome this condition by producing means for guiding the movable contacts intd proper engagement with the fixed contacts and protecting the guide fingers 53. Fori this purpose I use cam members 54 pivotally supported to shoulders 55 and rigidly car-1 ried by extensions 56 supported by the terfingers 53 and 'looselyvpivoted to shoulders 55 that should the wedge-shaped movable contact 5 move out of alignment, it will strike one of the cam fingers 54 and be guided into its proper pathwithout impairing the guide fingers 53. This arrangement for guiding and aligning the movable contact so that the relatively movable contacts will register properly is claimed per se in my divisional application Serial No. 529,- 919, filed anuary 17, 1922, for electric switching devices.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In an electric switch, the combination with relatively movable cooperating contacts, of a mechanism for controlling said contacts comprising an operating member, an actuating member, a connection between said members collapsible to cause said actuating member to move to circuit opening posi- 7 tion independently of said operating member, restraining means for holding said connection rigid, and adjustable means operative to control the degree of restraint of said restraining means.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with relatively movable cooperating contacts, of a mechanism for controlling said contacts comprising anoperating toggle, a

collapsible actuating toggle. an actuator tact-s, of a mechanism for controlling'said contacts comprising an operating toggle, an

actuator member movable b said toggle about a fixed pivot, an actuating toggle collapsible to cause said switch to move to circuit opening position independently of said actuator member, a latching toggle connected between said actuating toggle and said actuator. member, a latch cooperating with said latching toggle to hold it in restrained position, one link of said latching toggle being adjustably connected to said actuator .member to vary the restraining action of one member connected to said actuating toggle and provided .with a projection, a latch carried b said actuator member and en- I gaging sald projection to hold said restraining toggle rigid, and means connecting the other member of said restraining toggle to said actuator member and adjustable to vary the point of engagement of said projection and said latch. 4

5. In an'electric switch, the combination with relatively movable cooperating contacts, of a mechanism for controlling said.

contacts comprising an operating toggle, a

collapsible toggle, an actuator member to which. both said toggles are connected, a restraining toggle pivotally connected between said actuating toggle and actuator member, a latch cooperating with said restraining toggle to maintain said toggle in restraining position, and means for raising and lowerin the pivotal connection of said toggle to said ,actuator member to adjust the point of envessel, a unitary cover structure to which said vessel is attached, insulator bushings secured to saidstructure at opposite sides thereof, and a mechanism for controlling said contacts mounted in said cover struc ture, said mechanism being arranged intermediate said insulator bushings and above the top of said oil vessel.

7. In an electric, switch, the combination with a vessel adapted tocontain an insulating fluid,. relatively movable cooperating contacts separable within the fluid in, said vessel, a cover structure comprising a pair of supporting members to which said vessel is adapted to be secured, a second pair of supporting members secured to said first men tioned pair of members at right angles thereto, and a mechanism for controlling said contacts supported by said second pair of mem bers and having all its component parts above the top of said vessel.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of August, 1920.

CHRISTEN CHRISTENSEN. 

